Explore the Family Name Thunder
The meaning of Thunder
1. Native American: translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on a word such as Lakota and Dakota Sioux wakiŋyaŋ, meaning ‘thunder’. In the cosmology of some Native American peoples thunder is personified and considered a sacred power. This is reflected in traditional Native American personal names, some of which were adopted as surnames (translated into English), e.g. Thunder Hawk (see Thunderhawk). 2. English: nickname from Middle English thonder, thunder ‘thunder’ (Old English thunor), perhaps used for someone with a thunderous voice. 3. English: occupational name from Middle English tunder (Old French tondour) ‘shearman; one who shears the nap of woollen cloth’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Thunder in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Thunder has seen an increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Thunder held the rank of 44,350 amongst all surnames in the United States, while it improved to the 42,378th position in 2010, marking a change of 4.45%. The count of individuals with this surname also grew from 457 to 512 during the same period, representing a 12.04% increase. Despite these shifts, the proportion of the surname per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.17.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,350 | #42,378 | 4.45% |
| Count | 457 | 512 | 12.04% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Thunder
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Thunder has also seen changes over the decade as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. The largest group identifying with this surname continues to be the American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicity, albeit with a slight decrease from 56.89% to 56.84%. The proportion of those identifying as White dropped by 11.30%, settling at 31.64% in 2010. Notably, there were no recorded individuals with the surname Thunder associating with Asian/Pacific Islander or Black ethnicity in 2010, compared to minimal representation in 2000. The category of two or more races saw a significant upswing of 48.73%, reaching 5.86% in 2010. Meanwhile, the Hispanic ethnic identity showed up in the 2010 survey for the first time, accounting for 3.32% of people with the Thunder surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 56.89% | 56.84% | -0.09% |
| White | 35.67% | 31.64% | -11.3% |
| Two or More Races | 3.94% | 5.86% | 48.73% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 3.32% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 1.75% | 0% | 0% |